Abstract: Method and apparatus are described for the controlled cooling of processed oxidic ores in a shaft furnace in order to produce an improved product. Means are provided in the cooling section of the furnace chamber that enable the chamber to be divided into separate regions within each of which the admission of low temperature reducing gas can be regulated in order to more effectively control the distribution of reducing gas across the furnace.

Abstract: The walls of a furnace are water cooled by a wall construction that comprises a pair of closely spaced, parallel plates defining a coolant flow passage. The plates are connected at their opposite ends to headers that place the passage in fluid communication therewith. According to one aspect of the invention the plates are formed as concentric annuli that encircle the furnace interior while the headers are ring headers. According to another aspect of the invention the walls are constructed of modular panels employing the inventive concept.

Abstract: A seal is provided to prevent gas flow through the opening in the converter enclosure that accommodates the converted hood and the annular skirt that is telescopically movable thereon. The seal comprises a fixed ring on the enclosure and a movable ring attached to the skirt. The latter contains a liquid body for sealing purposes. The configuration of the rings is such that they cooperate to define a labyrinth to prevent kish accumulation in the liquid seal. Pressurized air can be supplied to augment the liquid seal.

Abstract: The toggle levers in a sliding gate valve operative to impart the compressive loading between the slide assembly housing and the teeming vessel are mechanically actuated to their engaged or released positions by the drive motor utilized to operate the slide frame. The toggle levers are attached to connecting rods which are, in turn, connected by a follower rod that extends across the path of travel of the slide frame. The follower rod can be positioned on one side of the slide frame or the other to alternatively engage or release the levers. During normal operation of the valve the follower rod is locked to the housing whereby the slide frame is free to move with respect to the toggle levers.

Abstract: Excessive wear is eliminated in a distributor utilized in a bottom-blown oxygen steelmaking converter for distributing oxygen and entrained lime to the converter tuyeres by the provision of a spiral ramp that extends between the inlet and outlet regions of the affected portion of the distributor. The ramp is arranged to mechanically separate the entering oxygen-lime mixture from that flowing through the affected region thereby preventing the interference between the two flows and the wear-producing flow acceleration attendant therewith.

Abstract: The rebricking of a converter lining is facilitated by a mobile truck arranged to carry a winch-operated platform to be lowered into the converter when the truck is disposed in overlying relation to the mouth thereof. The truck is moved along rails, at least part of which are rails that mount the movable lower portion of the converter hood.

Abstract: The lip ring on an oxygen steelmaking converter is detachably connected to the top cone of the converter to permit the lip ring to be removed from the top cone when the former becomes damaged, as during deskulling operations. The connection between the lip ring and the top cone is made by swing bolts that are pivotally mounted to the top cone and the flange interface that effects the connection between the lip ring and the top cone is conically formed to eliminate the development of shear stresses in the bolts such that smaller and fewer bolts can be employed to reduce the costs attendant with, and the time required for, replacement of the lip ring.

Abstract: The dryness of the coarse solids fraction discharged from a spiral classifier is improved by the provision of a secondary coarse particles discharge in the side wall of the classifier tank upstream of the primary coarse particles discharge. Part of the coarse fraction is removed from the process stream through the secondary discharge thereby relieving the load on the raking mechanism and facilitating the liberation of entrained free moisture from the coarse material remaining in the classifier tank.

Abstract: The length of segments cut from steel blooms that can be conveniently removed from a pass line in which a sizing gauge is positioned in close aligned relation to the pass line is increased by mounting the sizing gauge on a movable carriage. Support rollers forming a bloom receptacle are positioned on the carriage adjacent the sizing gauge and means are provided to move the carriage to each of two positions whereby either the sizing gauge or the receptacle is aligned with the bloom pass line.

Abstract: A beam structure is described for supporting rails that carry wheeled cover carriages employed to close the openings of chambers in an industrial furnace of the soaking pit type. Each beam is disposed on the median wall between adjacent chambers and is arranged to mount a pair of rails, each of which is associated with one of the two adjacent chamber openings. The beam is structured and arranged to rapidly dissipate heat acquired during periods of furnace operation and especially due to exposure to the interior of the furnace when the associated cover is removed to thereby protect against undue thermal stressing. Ancillary insulating means may be appended to the structure in the most severely affected regions thereof.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for reducing iron ore wherein spent reducing gas may be used as fuel in a reformer, and a portion of the reformer product is used as cooling gas in the bottom portion of the shaft furnace to lower the temperature of the reduced product in a controlled manner whereby the product is rendered more stable and thereby more suitable for storage and shipment.

Abstract: Frictional drag on the feeder screw of a briquetting press is reduced and a concomitant reduction in feeder screw drive power requirements is realized by providing all but the lowermost flight on the feeder screw with regularly spaced notches to allow the reverse flow of limited amounts of the material being fed to the press.

Abstract: The tensile and compressive strength characteristics of pipe joints, particularly those adapted for use in oil well casings, are improved by a novel thread configuration on the mating pipe and coupling members. The threads are symmetrical, round threads having relatively large radius crests and roots. They include flank portions between the respective crests and roots disposed on angles not greater than angles of repose of the joint materials.Pipe joints employing the described thread configuration are easier to fabricate and are capable of more rapid make-up while the danger of cross-threading and jamming is minimized.

Abstract: Apparatus is disclosed that is operative to grind burrs from the ends of rails that have been saw cut to length. A manually positionable crosshead carries three grinding wheels, two of which are oppositely spaced and spring biased into engagement with oppositely facing surfaces of the rails. The other grinding wheel is effective to operate on the rail surface bridging the oppositely facing surfaces. Means are provided for urging the oppositely spaced grinding wheels apart during retractive movement of the crosshead. A retractable workpiece stop may be provided to position the workpiece with respect to the grinding wheels.

Abstract: The burn-in of the refractory lining or of the refractory component of a tuyere-containing bottom plug in a bottom-blown oxygen steelmaking converter is effected with the plug in place by passing oxygen and a gaseous hydrocarbon mixed with controlled amounts of neutral gas through the respective concentric passages in tuyeres contained in the plug. The described method can be employed to burn-in a bottom plug installed in a converter together with a newly installed refractory converter lining or to burn in a newly installed bottom plug in an existing converter lining.